Do bile salts help with digestion and SIBO? Any downside to them?

Posted by active4life @active4life, Dec 22, 2023

Can anyone confirm or reject the following statement from a supplement vendor:

Bile acids, also called bile salts, are important for fat digestion and absorption.

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Ingegerd Enscoe, Alumni Mentor | @astaingegerdm | Dec 22, 2023

@active4life
Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect !
The answer to your question if bile acids are important in fat digestion is Yes.
Bile is formed in the liver and stored in the gallbladder. The gallbladder releases bile acids as needed to digest fat.
If one loses the gallbladder, bile is still produced in the liver and delivered into the small intestine. However, the delivery of bile not necessarily enough for the amount of fat ingested- or the opposite, too much is delivered.
Regarding supplements, I would discuss it with your physician- I don’t trust the information given in sales pitches.

choosejoy | @choosejoy | Dec 24, 2023

My dietitian recommended a supplement, called Cholacol, when I began having problems with fats. I had my gallbladder removed 11 years ago and only started having problems 3 years ago. The only side effect I know of with taking ox bile supplements is possible constipation.
I also went through a round of antibiotics for SIBO recently and my dietitian didn’t mention stopping the ox bile that I take before meals.